Policy:Encyclopedic

Encyclopedic pages exist for anyone to contribute articles provide comprehensive summaries of the topic and also direct readers to the collaborative thesis pages (and when appropriate, the personal thesis pages) relevant to any varying viewpoints related to the topic.

Titles for encyclopedic pages must be precisely worded regarding a single topic

Generally, the title would be the same as the index entry for a printed encyclopedia.

For example, Global warming may lead to a general article regarding the literature on global warming. As seen in this example, however, the encyclopedic entry will in turn contain links to specific viewpoints regarding the topic, for example "Global warming is mostly due to human activity" and alternatively, "Global warming is only modestly affected by human activity."

Encyclopedic pages shall provide links to appropriate thesis pages

Editors shall strive to provide

(a) first a brief and non-partisan explanation of the topic,

(b) to the degree editors of competing viewpoints can agree to present their views in summary statements and separate sections of the main encyclopedic article, well and good, but

(c) if editors cannot agree that proposed material can be fairly and neutrally presented, the controversial material should be removed to the linked collaborative or personal thesis pages and reduced to a reference to the controversy and representative links to article or index pages with list of articles, such as List of articles critical of global warming.

Appeal Process for Editorial Conflicts

If editors of the encyclopedic page cannot agree, one or more may initiate a request for a SearchForTruth Editorial Intervention. There will a small financial charge for seeking a judgment and for each level of appeals. A judgment or appeal that determines there has been disruptive behavior will result in the blocking of the disruptive party.

At the first level, of a SearchForTruth Editorial Intervention, the "plaintiff" will seek the binding intervention and judgment of a SearchForTruth staff member acting as the "judge." The judge will seek to mediate an agreement that best fits policy, or may dictate a solution if mediation fails.

If the judgment is not satisfactory to any party, that judgment may be appealed to the Appeal Board, where a team of staff members will review the case and policy and either confirm or change the prior decision.

If the Appeal Board decision is still not satisfactory, and most especially if the plaintiff or respondents believe a core policy must be modified to better achieve the goals of SearchForTruth, a final level of appeal can be raised to Entire Managing Board of SearchForTruth. The Board will review the case and policy in an effort to clarify future policy regarding judgments on the specific case in question and similar controversies in the future.

Unlike Wikipedia interventions, which are theoretically undertaken and enforced by volunteers who may or may not have their own biases, the SearchForTruth appeal process requires the staff and management to take direct responsibility for fairly settling controversies and for clarifying policies in a manner that reduces the risk of controversy and edit warring.